A critical analysis of isolation of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis from soil

The present review is a critical analysis of positive and negative reports of the isolation of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis from soil. The strains is olated from soil or soil-contaminated material (dogfood, penguin feces) by Batista et al. in Recife, Brazil, Negroni in the Argentinian Chaco, Alborno z in rural Venezuela, Silva-Vergara et al, in Ibia, Brazil, Ferreira et al, in Uberlandia, Brazil, and Gezuele et al. at the Uruguayan base in the Ant arctic region, presented mycological characteristics consistent with P. bra siliensis. In most of these studies, morphological characterization was com plemented with an evaluation of virulence and antigenicity, and biochemical or molecular analysis. These isolations, therefore, can be considered true , supporting the concept of soil as an important element in the ecology of the pathogen. The large number of negative reports in attempts involving so il samples and the low repeatability of isolation of the fungus from the sa me area indicate that the specific conditions supporting growth of the path ogen in soil have not been fully clarified.